This year has been brutal for injuries. Well, we’ve said that since football has existed, but this year it hurts fantasy teams dearly. As injuries roll in, playing the waiver wire ahead of Week 3 is unquestionably important in fantasy football. Here’s a quick list of starters that have gone down with injury, and it’s only Week 2:
- Tua Tagovailoa
- A.J. Brown
- Puka Nacua
- Cooper Kupp
- Isiah Pacheco
- Christian McCaffrey
- Deebo Samuel
- Jordan Love
That’s not even including the guys that are likely to only miss a week or two like Tee Higgins. Without further adieu, let’s find the top waiver options this week.
Waiver Wire Week 3 – Chiefs Running Backs, Chargers Receivers and More Fantasy Football
Carson Steele – Kansas City Chiefs RB
Steele looks like the kind of guy that would own an alligator (he does). He runs like it too. After the Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco, it’s unlikely that either back owns the majority of touches. But Steele profiles as a between the 20s rusher with goal line upside. In standard or half-PPR leagues, Steele is the back to own in KC.
Samaje Perine – Kansas City Chiefs RB
This may be the saddest thunder and lightning combination in the NFL, but here we are. Perine is the pass catching option out of the backfield, and that role in a KC offense is valuable. Jerrick McKinnon was fantasy gold for a month back in the day. He won’t be that valuable, but for a short term option for a fantasy team decimated by injuries, you can do worse in PPR formats.
Braelon Allen – New York Jets RB
If you can afford to be patient, Braelon Allen is the ideal stash candidate. It should be noted he was on the handcuff list prior to the season, but now that the world has seen him in action, he won’t be floating on waivers for long. If Breece Hall gets dinged up, or the RB opportunities become more split, Allen will be a Zero-RB drafter’s dream.
Related Video – Braelon Allen Pre-Draft Film Study
Jalen Tolbert – Dallas Cowboys WR
Did Dallas find their WR2? Maybe. Tolbert posted a 23% target share on Sunday, and the Cowboys have another tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens this week. In a negative gamescript, Tolbert can slot in as a low end FLEX option.https://www.youtube.com/live/dXm_Dlixuy0?si=E0Unn4bCPO0comHS
Quentin Johnston – Los Angeles Chargers WR
QJ didn’t do much as a rookie to live up to the draft cycle hype. Is this a year two breakout? Johnston is the first read on 50% of Chargers pass attempts so far this year. Most of us were ready to throw him into the dumpster after his rookie season, but he’s only rostered on 7% of ESPN leagues and it’s best to hedge against the disdain. (Ladd McConkey might have something to say about the target share soon).
Hunter Henry – New England Patriots TE
The tight end position is a wasteland again. Great! Hunter Henry is operating as the Patriots first or second target, and until that changes he’s a streaming option at the position.
Derek Carr – New Orleans Saints QB
It is with my hat in my hand, my takes deleted, and a true apology to Derek Carr that he makes the waiver options. Klint Kubiak has turned this offense from a Taysom Hill lab experiment to one of the most deadly in the league. Carr won’t bring anything on the ground, but with a matchup against the Eagles in Week 3, he has to be a waiver pickup for fantasy football. They just let Kirk Cousins throw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. With passing down across the league, Carr is leading the way for one of the most exciting teams in the league.
Raiders D/ST
They play the Panthers.
Main Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
